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July 10, 1962
w. GLUCK
3,043,001
MECHANIZED INSERTION OF RADIO TUBE SOCKETS
Original Filed April 20, 1956
6 Sheets-Sheet 1
INVENTOR.
' F/G. 5
WILLIAM GLUCK
BY
.
_.
~
W! W
ATT
NEY
July 10, 1962
7
w. GLUCK
3,043,001
MECHANIZED INSERTION OF RADIO TUBE SOCKETS
Original Filed April 20, 1956
6 Sheets-Sheet 2
F/6.6’
/44
£34
m
a
I ‘A
"/40
INVENTOR.
‘34"
7-’ '1“
-.
’
WILLIAM GLUCK
- i
.__i
BY
1 JJ
‘—— - —/
'
M
AT‘ ORNEY
July 10, 1962
3,043,001
w. GLUCK
MECHANIZED INSERTION OF RADIO TUBE SOCKETS
Original Filed April 20, 1956
6 Sheets-Sheet 3
.QM\
N\ \\ N\\
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I
\
x
INVENTOR.
WILLIAM GLUCK
BY
ATTOR EY
July 10, 1962
w. GLUCK
3,043,001
MECHANIZED INSERTION 0F RADIO TUBE SOCKETS
Original Filed April 20, 1956
6 Sheets-Sheet 4
\\/'
‘J, 11/ //
IN VEN TOR,
202//
WILLIAM GLUCK
BY
04%“
ATT RNEY
July 10, 1962
3,043,001
w. GLUCK
MECHANIZED INSERTION OF RADIO TUBE SOCKETS
Original Filed April 20, 1956
FIG‘. 25 4s 5”
/ /
6 Sheets-Sheet 5
H61 26
INVENTOR. "
WILLIAM GLUCK
BY( ;
ATTORNEY
July 10, 1962
'
w. GLUCK
3,043,001
MECHANIZED INSERTION OF RADIO TUBE SOCKETS
Original Filed April 20, 1956
Y
6 Sheets-Sheet 6
II_VVENTOR.
W32
WILLIAM GLUCK
BY
‘\x
ATTORNEY
United States Patent 0 "ice
.
3,043,001
Patented July 10, 1962
2
1
of a stick of connected sockets embodying features of
my invention;
$343,061
MECHANIZED WSERTIGN OF RADIO TUBE
SGQKETS
vFIG. 2 is explanatory of the manner of use of the
socket;
William Gluck, Bronx, N.Y., assignor to Industrial Elec
FIG. 3 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the lower
tronic Hardware Corp., a corporation of New York
end of the center ground shield;
Original application Apr. 20, 1956, Ser. No. 579,664, now
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section at one of
Patent No. 2,962,690, dated Nov. 29, 1960. Divided
the terminal posts of superposed sockets;
and this application Sept. 26, 1958, Ser. No. 763,512
13 Claims.
(Cl. 29-203)
.
FIG. 5 is a vertical section through a socket and part
10
of a subjacent socket, taken approximately in the plane
of the line 5-5 of FIG. 5A, but drawn to enlarged
This invention relates to sockets for the reception of
electron emission tubes, and other components having
pins for connection purposes, hereinafter for convenience
called simply radio tubes, and relates more particularly
scale;
‘FIG. 5A is a plan view of the socket;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary development of
15 the lower end of the blank for the center ground shield;
to mechanized insertion of such sockets.
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevation, similar to FIG. 1,
The primary object of the present invention is to gen
but showing a modi?cation;
'
erally improve the mechanized insertion of sockets into
FIG. 8 is a vertical section through a socket inserting
a board, chassis, panel or the like. A more particular
head embodying features of my invention;
’
object is to improve the insertion of sockets into printed
FIG. 9 is a horizontal section taken approximately in
circuit boards.
the plane of the line 9-9 of FIG. 8;
A related object is to improve the handling, storage
FIG. 10 is a horizontal section taken approximately in
and shipment of sockets, with a view to avoiding tangling
the plane of the line 16-10 of ‘FIG. 8;
together of the sockets, and with a view to avoiding
‘FIG. 11 is a fragmentary horizontal sectiondrawn to
the need for hoppering of sockets when arranging for
mechanized insertion of the same. These objects are 25 enlarged scale, and taken approximately in the plane of
the line 11-11of FIG. 8;
'
ful?lled generally by providing a connected series of
FIG. 12 is a fragmentary horizontal section drawn
?nished or substantially ?nished sockets which may ‘be
handled as a unit or as a stick of sockets.
to enlarged scale, and taken approximately in the plane
Still an
of the line 12-12 of FIG. 8;
other object is to provide such a sick of ‘sockets in which
FIG. 13 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken ap
.the sockets are disposed in superposed or stacked re 30
lation, and in which they are held together, preferably
proximately in the plane ‘of the line 13-13 of FIG. 8;
by a snap engagement, although a reslient frictional or
slip engagement might be employed. In accordance with
FIG. 14 is a horizontal section taken approximately
in the plane of the line 14-14- of FIG. 8, to show the
a further feature and object of the invention, the parts
setting jaws;
of the sockets are so related as to provide a relatively 35
rigid stick of sockets.
Further objects center about the mechanism for in
serting the sockets, and are to provide a suitable maga
zine for the sockets; suitable setting jaws to seize and
'
FIG. 15 is a vertical elevation showing a reciprocable
cam member for operating the socket retention and feed
jaws;
FIG. 16 is a fragmentary section taken approximately
' in the plane of the line 16-16 of FIG. 8;
‘FIG. 17 is a fragmentary vertical section taken ap
insert the lowermost socket of the stack; suitable reten
proximately in the plane of the line 17-17 of FIG. 13;
tion or/ and feed claws to hold the stack while the lower
FIG. 18 is va perspective view showing an electrical
most socket is separated therefrom, and to lower or feed
contact forming a part of the machine;
the stack a distance corresponding to one socket during
FIG. 19 is a fragmentary section taken approximately
each cycle of operation. In accordance with still an~
other object, the mechanism is formed as a machine 45 in the plane of the line 19-19, of FIG. 8, and explana
head, the parts of which are mounted on and supported
tory of a part of the mechanism;
FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram developing three
by a relatively long, generally horizontal arm having
claws, for explanatory purposes;
a Width only slightly greater than the diameter of the
FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram explanatory of the
socket, and the upright magazine and setting mechanism
are disposed at the very end of the arm, while the oppo 50 action of the cam mechanism controlling the setting
site or- rear end of the arm is adapted to be ?xedly
mounted. The mechanism is so designed as to be con
jaws during their downward movement;
?ned within the outline of the arm, as viewed in plan,
FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram explanatory of the
action of the cam mechanism controlling the setting jaws
so that a number of such heads may be disposed in
during their upward movement;
close proximity for the simultaneous insertion of sockets
into a board requiring sockets in close proximity.
The socket and the stick of sockets are not claimed
herein. The present application has claims directed to
the mechanism for inserting the sockets and is a division
of my parent application Serial No. 579,664, ?led April
20, 1956, since issued on November 29, 1960 as Patent
2,962,690, which has claims directed to the socket and
the stick of sockets, but no claims directed to the mech
anism.
FIG. 23 is a diagram tracing the motion of the setting
jaws;
FIG. 24 is a plan view of one of the retention and feed
claws;
FIGS. 25 through 28 show in schematic ‘fashion variant‘
ways in which multiple heads may be disposed for the
simultaneous insertion of sockets in close proximity; and
FIG. 29 is a schematic wiring and piping diagram.
Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to
FIGS. 8 and 29, the socket inserting machine comprises
To accomplish the foregoing general objects, and other
65 a magazine 32 holding a series of sockets, a means 34
more speci?c objects which will hereinafter appear, my
invention resides in the novel elements, and their rela
to push the endmost socket downwardly into a board
(not shown) while separating the endmost socket from
tion one to another, as are hereinafter more speci?cally
the next socket, and a means at 36 to feed the series of
sockets a distance corresponding to one socket, prepara
described in the following speci?cation. The speci?ca
tion is accompanied by drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a vertical elevation of a fragmentary portion
70 tory to the next socket insertion cycle. In the machine
here illustrated the magazine 32 is an upright tubular
3,043,001
3
.
magazine holding a superposed stack of sockets, and the
'
4
a
such length that the terminal posts 96 of socket 98 just
means 36 acts as a retention and feed means which
reach the insulation or top wafer 10% of the next lower
utilizes gravitational movement of the sockets.
socket.
, Referring next to FIG. 9, the machine preferably com
'
‘
However, in accordance with a further feature of the
present invention the stiffness of the stick of sockets is
prises a relatively long, generally horizontal arm 38
having a width only slightly greater than the diameter
of the socket being handled. The magazine 32 is dis
further improved by forming a ring of holes in the top
.wafer to receive the lower ends of the terminal posts of
posed’ above thearm very close to the free forward end
of the arm, the rear end 4%} being adapted to be ?xedly
top wafer 102 of the preferred socket has a ring of holes
the next higher socket. ' Thus referring to FIG. 5A, the
mounted. The magazine 32 and all of the mechanism of 10 194 disposed directly over the terminal posts. These
holes are in addition to the ring of smaller holes 106 pro—
. the machine are con?ned within the outline of the arm
38, as viewed in plan.
Referring now to FIG. 25 of the drawing, it will be
seen that this arrangement makes it possible to dispose a
number of insertion heads in close proximity. In FIG.
25 the heads 42, 44 and 46 insert three sockets in close
proximity to one another in a printed circuit board 48.
Theboard 48 may, of course, be accurately located rela
tive tothe beads by a suitable locating ?xture, here rep
vided' for the pins of the radio tube, and the center hole
108 provided for the center shield. It will be understood
that the socket here shown is for miniature tubes having
seven pins, spaced for eight pins, the missing pin space
serving to properly orient the tube relative to the socket.
Because of the missing pin the socket may be provided
with a ?at side indicated at 110. In the socket shown in
FIG. 7 there is no outer ring of holes 104, but in the
' resented schematically by the corners 50 of a base 52. 20 socket shown in FIGS. 1 through 5A such holes are
Exaggerated clearance has been shown at the corners
added, and the lower ends 116 (FIG. 4) of the terminal
merely for clarity. FIGS. 26, 27 and 28 show variant
posts 72 are received vfor a short distance in the holes 104
ways in which the insertion heads may be diwosed, with
(FIG. 5). Accordingly the center shield 68 is somewhat
a view to locating sockets in any desired position re
shorter in this socket than in the socket of FIG. 7.
quired by the layout of the board receiving the same.
' I preliminarily’ provide a connected series of sockets
which may be handled as a unit or stick.‘ A piece of
Each metal contact is preferably made of a single piece
of sheet metal, and comprises a resilient pin grip portion
70 (FIG. 5) of the split sleeve type. The terminal post
such a stick of sockets is shown in FIG. 1 of the draw
72 is made hollow and tubular so that it may be used as
25
1ing, it comprising superposed sockets 54, S6, 58, 6t}, 62,
. etc. Each socket comprises an insulation body 64, 66
(FIG. 2) carrying a ring of metal contacts and also a
center ground shield 68. Each of the contacts preferably
comprises a pin grip portion 76 (FIG. 5) and a terminal
portion 72 connected by a bridge portion 74. The center
‘ ground shield 68 is provided with a means 76 to secure 35
it to ya subjacent socket 78. This could be a frictional
engagement, but more preferably is a snap ?t.
The shield 68 is a hollow tubular member, and its
a support post, and its lower end is preferably pointed
and split to make the same resiliently yieldable, as is best
shown in FIG. 4. The split lower end is provided with
ridges 118 and 120 which are spaced apart an amount
corresponding to the thickness of a piece of insulation
used as a printed circuit board, it being understood that
the present socket is particularly designed for use with
printed circuits which are to be soldered by the so-called
“pot soldering method.”
_
Referring to FIG. 2, when the socket is inserted in a
lower end is made pointed, resiliently compressible, and
printed circuit board, indicated in broken lines at 122,
undercut.
the wafers 64, 66 of the socket are disposed above the
board 122, as shown. The tube 124 has been only parti
ally inserted as shown in the drawing, and its pins 126
are received in the pin grippers of the metal contacts.
It is so dimensioned as to be received in the
upper end 80 of the shield of the subjacent socket 78
with a snap ?t. For this purpose the blank from which
the center shield 68 is formed is appropriately shaped,
one suitable shape being shown at 82 in FIG. 6. The
Reverting now to FIG. 5, the contacts are loaded on to
blank is provided with points 84 separated by slots 86, 45 the lower wafer 64, the grippers 70 being received through
and when the lower end is formed into ?nished con?gura
an inner ring of holes, and the posts 72 passing through
tion the points 84 are spaced by slots at 86, as shown in
an outer ring of holes, with the connecting bridges 74 dis
FIG. 3 of the drawing. This makes the lower end of ‘the '
shield resiliently compressible.
posed over wafer 64. The contacts are held between the
In addition it is pref
Wafers when the upper wafer 66 is added. The inner
erably provided with a ridge forming an undercut, as 50 holes 106 of the upper wafer are in alignment with the
shown at 88 in FIGS. 2vand S, and this cooperates with
' pin grippers 70, and the tube pins pass through the holes
a mating channel of the next lower shield, which has a
106. The outer holes 104 serve no purpose in the socket
bead shown at 90 (FIG. 5).
as such, but serve to receive the lower ends of the, posts
The socket here shown is a laminated socket, and the
of the next socket when the sockets are assembled into
shield is used further as an eyelet to hold the lower and
upper laminations 64 and 66 together. The bead 90 is
a stick, as described above.
preliminarily formed on the shield, and after the shield
18 inches, and may be boxed, stored, shipped and han
The sticks of sockets may have any desired length, say
is inserted upwardly through the laminations, the upper
dled as sticks. Similarly, the sticks are readily loaded
into the top of a simple tubular magazine at the inserting
FIG. 5. During this ?anging operation the upper end of 60 station, and the magazine may have ‘any desired length,
end is ?anged or riveted outwardly, as shown at 92 in
the shield may be forced into a shape with ?ats, forrex
ample, the hexagonal shape shown at 92 in FIG. 5A.
This has the advantage of holding the wafers 64 and 66
against relative rotation. The formation of the bead 90
also provides a channel or inwardly directed ledge or
undercut which cooperates with the shoulder 88 of the
sticks of sockets are loaded into the upright tubular maga
zine 32. This preferably has a ?at at one side to orient
_ resilient end 76 of the next shield, so that they may be
the sockets. In the present case‘ the?at is provided by
say four feet, in which case two sticks may be loaded at
a time, on top of a fraction of a stick at the bottom of
the magazine.
'
Referring now to FIG. 8 of the drawing, one or more
engaged not merely with a frictional engagement, but
securing a strip 130 inside a cylinder 32, as will be clear
with a snap ?t.
also from inspection of FIG. 9,. The strip may be held
inrposition by small screws or rivets, no shown. The
magazine tube is held against axial movement in any de
,
The axial dimension of the shield 68 is greater than
that of the terminal posts 72. The length of shield 68 .
is preferably reduced to an amount which will bring the
sired fashion, as by means of snap or friction rings shown
posts 72 into engagement with the next lower socket,
at 134 and 136 in,FIG. 8. The magazine is preferably
thereby steadying the sockets against one another. This
rotatably adjustable, and the jaw and claw mechanism
is shown in FIG. 7, in which the center shield ‘94 is of 75 later described are preferably made independent of the
3,043,001
6
Thus in FIG. 26, for example, the layout of the circuit
board 48 may require not only that the three sockets be
in close proximity, but also that they be in different ori
entation. The magazine is held against rotation, as by
time the levers 161 bear against one another. Thus in
the course of the downward movement shown in FIG. 21,
when followers 156 move down to the dotted position
156’, they come outside the cams 160 and move the latter
idly inward, as shown by the change from the solid line
position 160 to the dotted line position 160' in FIG. 21.
means of a clamp screw or set screw, not shown.
The followers ‘are spread apart by the compression spring
orientation of the socket, so that the socket may be
oriented as required by the board in which it is received.
168 shown in FIG. 9, and this spread corresponds to a
The lowermost socket is seized and inserted by jaws
closing of the jaws 34, as shown in solid lines in FIG. 14,
34 previously mentioned. These jaws are best shown in
FIG. 14, which shows how the jaws 34 are carried at the 10 so that they grip a socket seized therebetween. The grip
is a resilient grip dependent on the strength of the com
lower ends of vertical shafts or rods 140, so that the jaws
may be oscillated horizontally to open or close the same,
as shown by the broken line position 34', in addition to
being reciprocated vertically, as shown at 34' in FIG. 8.
pression spring 168.
142, ‘as by a screw connection‘ 150. The piston rod 152
is connected by arms 154 to the jaw rods 1140.
When the followers move upward from the solid line
position 156 (FIG. 22), it will be seen that they engage
The working ends of the jaws have an inverted L shape 15 the cams 160 ‘and are moved together thereby. This is
shown by the change inward or horizontally at the broken
(FIG. 8), thus providing a positive force on a socket
line position 156’ where the followers are guided and
being pushed downward. The jaws may be described as
forced to ride between the cams 161}, the latter then being
a means disposed outside of the magazine and movable in
a direction longitudinal of the magazine for operating on
at maximum spread position. Of course, when the fol
the peripheral portion of the lowermost socket.
20 lowers 156 reach a position higher than the cams 169 they
promptly spring apart to the spread position shown at
Thejaw rods 140 pass upward through the arm 38,
156'. This completes the cycle which would repeat dur
and ?nally upward through a top bracket 142, which is
parallel to and preferably of the same width as the arm
ing a downward stroke, ‘as shown in FIG. 21, and again
33, but not as long in rearward direction. The jaw rods
during an upward stroke, as shown in ‘FIG. 22.
Additional cam surfaces may be provided to slightly
140 are actuated by motor means indicated at 144. In
the present case this is an air cylinder with a double act
‘free the grip of the jaws on the socket when the socket is
ing piston within the cylinder, and accordingly there are
in lowermost position. These stationary cam surfaces are
upper and lower connections 146 and 148 ‘for air pipes.
shown at 170 in FIG. 19, and when the followers 156
The lower end of cylinder 144 is secured in upper bracket
reach the cams 170 they are moved slightly inward. The
Referring now to FIG. 9 of the drawing, arms 154 are
cams are also shown at 170‘ in FIG. 10, and it will be
understood that these are located directly above the lower
bracket 172, as shown at 170‘ in FIG. 8. This corresponds
secured to the jaw rods 140, as by means of crosspins, not
to the bottom of the socket setting stroke, as indicated in
shown.
broken lines at 152’, 154', 156'.
The resulting movement of the clamping jaws is sche
matically represented in FIG. 23, in which it will be seen
that the jaws are urged together during their downward
movement from the point 1 to the point 2, whereupon
The rear ends 156 of the arms 154 act as cam
followers, for a purpose later described. The intermedi
ate portion of the arms 154 is received between top and
bottom plates 158, 159 (FIG. 8), which in turn are
secured in spaced relation on the piston rod 152.. It will
thus be seen that the piston moves the arms 154 together
they are spread slightly at the point 3 and move down to
with the jaw rods 140 vertically for socket insertion, with
point 4. When the jaws rise they come together slightly
out, however, interfering with any desired sideward oscii- ,
lation of the arms 154 needed to control the opening or
from the point 3 to the point 2 and then remain together
(with no socket therebetween) to the point 5, when they
are spread apart to the point ‘6, and then remain apart
closing of the jaws through the rods 14%, and that is pro
vided by the action of the cam followers 156, next de
during their rise to the point 7, whereupon they again
scribed.
45 come together to the point 1. The region from point 6
The cam followers 156 cooperate with movable cam
to point 7 straddles the location of the lowermost socket
surfaces formed at the free ends of a pair of bypass cam
in the magazine, and the jaws are spread well apart in
lever 161 (FIGS. 8 and 9) which are movable about a
order to clear the lowermost socket despite the inverted
center 162, between an outer position shown in solid lines
L shape of the jaw section shown at 34 in FIG. 8. When
in FIG. 9, and an inner position 161' shown in dotted 50 the jaws come together at the top of their stroke they are
lines. The cam levers 161 are normally urged outward
astride the lowermost socket, and grip it preparatory to
by a compression spring 164 disposed between the levers,
the downward insertion stroke. In terms of FIGS. 21 and
with its ends seated in blind holes in the levers.
22, the followers 156 are spread apart (and the jaws are
Reverting now to FIG. 8, it will be seen that the cam
together) most of the time. The ‘followers are forced
levers 161 are mounted on a support rod 162, and are 55
together (and the jaws are forced apart) only during the
held at desired elevation by suitable collars 165. The
location of compression spring 164 is also shown, as well
limited period at the middle of FIG. 22 when the fol
lowers are passing between the cam levers. They are
as the cam surfaces 160 at the free ends of levers 161
pressed together slightly (and the jaws apart slightly) at
which cooperate with the cam follower surfaces 156
formed at the ends of the arms 154. The latter are nor
the bottom of the setting stroke.
60
The sockets are retained and fed by suitable means,
exempli?ed in this case by a feed claw 36 best shown in
and shown also in FIG. 9.
To understand the bypass cam action it should be under
stood that the cam surfaces, when viewed in fore-and-aft
direction, are preferably diamond-shaped, as indicated in 65
FIG. 24. A single claw would su?ice, but it is preferred
to employ multiple claws, and in the present case there
mally urged apart by a compression spring located at 168,
FIGS. 21 and 22. In FIG. 21 the cam followers are
indicated at 156. The ends of the cam levers are indi
cated ‘at 160 with cross hatching. It must be kept in mind
that the cams 160 are movable horizontally but not ver
are three claws which completely surround the socket.
This has the advantage of making the action independent
of the orientation of the socket despite the ?at at one side.
The claw is pivoted at 180 and has arms 181 and 182.
The arm 181 has an inverted L section, while the arm
182 has an upright L section. Thus if the claw is moved
tically. The followers 156 are movable horizontally, and 70 slightly clockwise the higher ledge 183 comes into the
also vertically between positions above and below the
magazine in the path of the sockets, and the lower ledge
184 comes outside the path of the sockets, while if the
shown in solid lines in FIG. 9, at which time the motion
claw is moved counter-clockwise the lower ledge 184
comes into the path of the sockets, and the higher ledge
of the levers 161 is limited by the sides of the housing,
and a closed position shown in broken lines, at which 75 183 is moved out of the path of the sockets.
cams 160.
The cams move between a spread position
3,043,001
8
'The difference in height of the top surfaces of the
ledges 183 and 184 is preferably equal to substantially
one-half the pitch or spacing of the sockets in the maga-v
zine. In the present case the spacing of the sockets
lower arm of a single claw is shown at 212, and this is
in the region of the pivot of the claw.
'
The waters of a socket are shown at 64, 66 where they
would rest on the upper ledges 183 when the latter are
shown in FIG. 1 is two-?fths of an inch, and the ledges
183 and 184 di?er in vertical height by one-?fth of an
inward, as shown in broken lines. When the claws shift,
the upper ledges'are moved outward, as shown in solid
lines, and the wafers drop to an intermediate position‘
shown in broken lines at 64', 66’, where they rest on the
lower ledges, when the latter, are inward as shown in
inch. By moving the claw through one complete oscilla
tion the stack will be lowered ?rst one-?fth inch and
again one-?fth inch, thus moving downward a distance
corresponding to one socket. The claw is provided with 10 solid lines. When the claws move back to initial position
a cam follower pin 186 which projects upward and co
the wafers drop to bottom position 64", 66" which posi
tion is determined by the fact that the next higher socket
operates with a short helical cam surface to oscillate the,
claw.
Referring now to FIG. 13 of the drawing, there are
three such claws pivoted, respectively, at 180, 180' and
(the second from the bottom) is then arrested at the solid
line position 64, 66 by the upper ledges of the claws,
which meanwhile were moved inward while the lowerv
ledges were moved outward. The stack is supported by
the second socket from the bottom (it might be the third
or fourth from the bottom). This fully exposes the}
lowermost socket, and makes it openly accessible to the
188", and the cam follower pin 186 is received in a cam
groove formed at the lower end of one leg 188 of a»
cam cylinder. This cylinder has three legs in all, in
dicated at 188, 188', and 188". Legs 188 and 188' are
also shown in FIG. 8, and are formed at the lower end
of a cam cylinder190, which is coaxial with the magazine
tube 32. The cylinder 190 has a cam follower roller
pass around the retention claws.
To insure that the stack has in fact moved downward to
192 projecting radially therefrom.
present a new socket to the jaws, I provide one or more
setting jaws 34, without requiring that the setting jaws
electrical contacts which act as sensing devices respon
Referring now to FIG. 11, it'will be seen that cam
follower roller 192 of cam cylinder 1% is. received in a 25 sive to the downward passage of the sockets. Such a con
tact is shown at 214 in FIG. 8,'and separately in FIG. 18.
cam groove formed in a vertically reciprocable cam strip
The inwardly stepped part 216 is in the path of the
194. This cam strip 194 is separately shown in FIG. 15,
sockets, and is preceded by a sloping portion 218. When
and upper and lower positions of the roller or follower
the sockets move down, thecontact spring 214 moves
are shown at 192 and 1%’. As a precautionary matter
outward and then again springs inward. I prefer to em
the cam slot 196 of strip 194 may be made up of two
‘ploy two 'such contacts, 90° apart, as shown in FIGS. 9
resilient spring wires indicated at 198 and 208. These
and 10, to permit any orientation of thesocket despite
are mounted in cantilever, the wire 198 being secured at
its ?at side.
,
its lower end 202 and the wire 280 being secured at its
upper end 204.
The contacts are insulatedly mounted near the maga
i
The strip 194 is vertically slidable through the main
support arm 38, along with theljaw rods 148, as shown
35
Downward movement of a socket momentarily breaks the
electrical circuit through the spring , contact. This is
in FIGS. 11 and 12. Referring to FIG. 8 the cam strip
194 is secured at its upper end by a screw 2% to a block
208 and is thereby clamped to the jaw rods 148.
utilized in a circuit, subsequently described, to disable
the drive mechanism in the event that no socket is fed
to the jaw station. The conductors for this interlock or
sensor circuit are'indicated at 222 in FIG. 8 leading to a
The
block 208 is better shown in FIG. 16, as well as the man
ner in'which strip 194 is locked thereto and to the jaw
rods 140. The vertical movement of the jaw rods is
accompanied by a vertical movement of the cam strip
194, thus oscillating the cam follower roller 192 (FIG.
11) from the solid line position to the broken line posi
tion and back again. This in turn oscillates the cam
connector 224.
within a housing formed by top bracket 1,42 and bottom
the stack of sockets against downward movement.
bracket 172 spaced by a rear plate 234 and side plates
FIG. 12 shows how the main support arm 38 is re
cessed or cut away at 210 and 211 to clear the cam legs
236. The rear and side plates are best shown in FIGS. 9
and 10. In addition a U-shaped piece of sheet metal
188, 188' and 188" of the cam cylinder, while holding
beneath the higher arm of the other. This is schematically
shown in FIG. 20 of- the drawing, which is a schematic
development of the circumference of the claws. The
arrangement is also shown in FIG. 17, in which the
parts 181, 183 represent the higher arm of claw 36, while
7
full insertion of the socket into a board receiving the same.
The mechanism shown in FIG. 8 is preferably housed
These claws may be described as releasable means en
' gaging a socket higher than the bottom socket to hold.
than arm 182, and the lower arm of one vclaw comes
,
gaged by the plate 159 secured to piston rod 150. The
air supply to the air cylinder 144 is controlled by a sole
noid operated valve, and the air supply is shifted from
the upper end of the cylinder to the lower end of the
cyinder by actuation of microswitch 228, which marks the
termination of the downward stroke, corresponding to
feed of the stack to bring a new socket into position to
be gripped by the setting jaws 34.
e
than halfway around the socket. Nevertheless it is
possible to provide three claws because arm 181 is higher
.
Additional conductors 226 lead to connector 224, and
these conductors connect to a microswitch 228. The
latter is actuated by a roller arm 230, which in turn is en
cylinder 199, with its three cam legs 188 and their helical
cam slots, thereby oscillating the three claws between the
positions shown in solid and broken lines in FIG. 13.
Each insertion of a socket is accompanied by downward
the latter to a dimension no greater than that of the end
of the arm 38. The latter is itself held as closely as
practicable to the socket diameter, and in the present case
in which the sockets have a diameter of %”, the arm 38
has a width of 1%”.
In FIG. 24 it will be seen that-each claw extends more
zine, and their lower tips 220 bear against the outside of
the cam cylinder, which is electrically at ground potential.
238 forms an extension of the sides 236, and is wrapped
around the magazine at the front of the machine. The
parts are held assembled by suitable screws or like fasten
ing means.
65
'
8
Referring now to FIG. 29, the female connector 224
previously referred to receives a male connector 240‘
with conductors leading to a small electrical panel 242,
which may be located somewhat remote from the socket
inserting head shown at the left of the diagram, this head
comprising the arm 38, magazine 32, air cylinder 144,
housing 238, and jaws 34. The compressed air hoses
leading to air cylinder 144 are shown at 244 and 246.
The apparatus is started by a trigger switch or button
250, and this may be located on panel 242 if the panel
is near the machine, but it may be remote from the panel
the parts 182', 184’ represent the lower arm of a next
if the panel is remote from the machine. Conductors 251
claw. The transition step between an upper arm and a 75 provide for a remote start switch, which may be 10
3,043,001
10
9.
When a plurality of heads is simultaneously operated
cated at any convenient point. It may be arranged for
at a single station the wiring shown in FIG. 29 may be
manual operation if the machine is to be started manually.
appropriately modi?ed to take care of the fact that all of
A modi?ed arrangement is to provide a foot switch, thus
the heads are to be started simultaneously by a single trig
leaving the hands of the operator free to handle the
‘ger switch, yet dilferent heads may respond di?erently in
printed circuit boards receiving the sockets. Another
respect to the microswitch 228 and the sensor contacts
arrangement provides an automatic switch at the in
214.
.
sertion station beneath the printed circuit board, so that
it is believed that the construction and operation, as
when the board is placed in its ?xture and pressed down
well as the advantages, of my inprovements in the mech
ward, that operation itself starts the machine for socket
insertion. Moreover, the present machine may be used 10 anized insertion of sockets, will be apparent from the
foregoing detailed description. It will also be apparent
in a fully mechanized arrangement in which the boards
are moved along intermittently by a conveyor chain, and '
that while I have shown and ‘described the invention in a
in such case the chain itself may trip a starting switch
when the board has been moved into position beneath one
preferred form, changes may be made without departing
‘from the scope of the invention, as sought to be de?ned
15 in the following claims. The term “radio tube socket” is
or more heads.
may be a. conventional four-way valve with four main’
intended to include sockets used in television receivers,
and sockets intended to receive transformers, transistors,
ports; two leading to the air cylinder 144 through the
pipes 244 and 246; one connected to the compressed air
parallel pins such as are used in vacuum tubes.
The solenoid operated air valve is shown at 252. This
supply indicated by pipe 254; and thefourth port being
open to the atmosphere, as indicated at 256. The sole
noid for operating the valve is shown at 258. The power
supply circuit is obtained through a conventional plug 260,
and other components and connectors having spaced
20
'
I claim:
1. A socket inserting machine for inserting radio tube
sockets into a board, said machine comprising a magazine
holding a series of sockets, means disposed outside of the
magazine and movable in a direction longitudinal of the
and the power line may be provided with the usual
master switch 262 and fuse 264.
25 magazine for operating on the peripheral portion of the
The electrical parts on the head itself are shown in the
endmost socket to push the endmost socket into a board
lower lefthand part of the diagram.
Speci?cally, two
and 214', while the movable contact of the microswitch
while separating the endmost socket from the next socket,
‘releasable means engaging the next socket higher than
the bottom socket to hold the stack of sockets against
228 is shown at 229.
The panel board 242 includes a step-down trans
sockets a ‘distance corresponding to one socket as a part
of the spring contacts on the magazine are shown at 214
downward movement, and means to feed the series of
former 266 to provide low voltage current for the micro
of each socket insertion cycle preparatory to the next
switch and the contacts 214. This low voltage operates
socket insertion cycle.
_
on the coils of relays R1 and R2. Relay R2 is a power
2. A socket inserting machine for inserting radio tube
relay which controls the solenoid 258' of the air valve 35 sockets into aboard, said machine ‘comprising an upright
252. Relay R1 is a memory relay which is affected by the
tubular magazine holding a superposed stack of sockets,
contacts 214. The panel board also includes indicator
releasable means to hold the stack of sockets against
lamps 268, 270 and 272 which may be distinctively
downward movement, means disposed outside vof the
colored, say yellow, red, and green, respectively. The
magazine and movable in a direction longitudinal of the
green lamp 272 is lighted to show that power switch 262
magazine for operating on the peripheral portion of the
has been closed and that the machine is alive. The yel
lowermost socket to grip and push the lowermost socket
low lamp 268 is lighted if the magazine is empty, so that
downwardly into a board while separating the lowermost
there is no opening and closing of the sensor circuit.
socket from the next superjacent socket, releasable means
The red lamp 270 is lighted if there is malfunction of the
engaging the next socket higher than the bottom socket
circuit, such as sticking of the stack after moving only 45 to hold the stack of sockets against downward movement,
partway down, so that the sensor circuit opens but does
and means to lower the stack of sockets a distance corre
not close again.
sponding to one socket as a part of each socket insertion
For proper functioning of the circuit shown the lamps
cycle preparatory to the next socket insertion cycle.
268 and 276 permit a ?ow of current when in series with
3. A socket inserting head for inserting radio tube
the relay coils su?icient to hold the relays after they have 50 sockets into a board, said head comprising a relatively
been energized or closed, but insufficient to close the
long generally horizontal arm, an upright tubular maga
same after they have opened. In the particular case here
zine above said arm, said arm being ‘adapted to be ?xedly
shown the output of transformer 266 is approximately 12
mounted, said magazine holding a superposed stack of
volts, and the lamps 268 and 270 have a current flow of
sockets, releasable means to hold the stack of sockets
approximately one ampere. The relays R1 and R2 re 55 against downward movement, means disposed outside of
quire approximately 3 amperes available current to close
the magazine and movable in a direction longitudinal of
from open position, but they require only one ampere to
the magazine for operating on the peripheral portion of
stick in closed position after being closed. Thus the
the lowermost socket to grip and push the lowermost
lamps 268 and 270 may be in series with the relay coils
socket downwardly into a board while separating the said
for holding purposes, but are not in series with the relay 0 lowermost socket from the next superjacent socket, re
coils when the relays are to be operated or closed from
leasable means engaging the next socket higher than the
open position.
bottom socket to hold the stack of sockets against down
The green lamp 272 is simply across the line as a pilot
ward movement, and means to lower the stack of sockets
light, and any 12 volt lamp will do.
by one socket as a part of each socket insertion cycle pre
The socket insertion force may be regulated by regu
5 paratory to the next socket insertion cycle.
lating the air pressure, as by use of a pressure regulating
4. A socket inserting head for inserting radio tube
valve shown at 253 in FIG. 29.
sockets into a “board, said head comprising a relatively
FIGS. 25-28 show how various heads may be disposed
long generally horizontal arm having a width only slightly
in di?’erent ways to meet conditions required by the loca
greater than the diameter of the sockets, an upright tubu
tion of sockets on a board. This applies to sockets which 70 lar magazine above said am, said arm being adapted to
are simultaneously inserted at one station. If the boards
are handled by a conveyor chain, the heads may be spread
apart at different stations, with the sockets being inserted
simultaneously in different boards, but sequentially in any
one board.
be ?xedly mounted, said magazine holding a superposed
stack of sockets, releasable means to hold the stack of
sockets against downward movement, means disposed out
side of the magazine and movable in a direction longitudi
75 nal of the magazine for operating on the peripheral por
3,043,001
II
12
.
tion of the lowermost socket to grip and push the lower
able engagement, a plurality of transfer or setting jaws
for engaging the lowermost socket of the stack and forc
ing it downward into the board, vertical rods slidably
disposed through said arm behind said'magazine and
carrying said jaws at their lower ends, motor means dis
most socket downwardly into a board while separating -
the said lowermost socket from the next superjacent
socket, releasable means engaging the next socket higher
than the ‘bottom socket to hold the stack of sockets against
I downward movement, and means to lower the stack of
sockets by one socket as a part of each socket insertion
posed behind said magazine for vertically reciprocating
cycle preparatory to the next socket insertion cycle, said
magazine and other mechanism being con?ned within the
the lowermost socket into the board, and camming means
said rods
for a substantial distance needed to deliver
for oscillating the rods to move the jaws together during
outline of the arm as viewed in plan, whereby a number 10 downward movement and to move the same apart during
of such heads may be disposed in close proximity for the
upward movement, and control means to cause said/motor
means to put the head through one socket inserting cycle,
said magazine, jaws, motor means, and all other mecha
nism of said head being ‘con?ned within the outline of
simultaneous insertion of sockets into a board requiring
sockets in close proximity.
5. A socket inserting head for inserting radio tube
sockets into a printed circuit board, said ‘head compris
the arm as viewed in plan, whereby a number of such
ing an arm, an upright tubular magazine above said arm,
heads may be disposed in close proximity for the simul
said’ magazine holding a superposed stack of connected
but releasable sockets, releasable means engaging a socket
taneous insertion of sockets into a board requiring sockets
in close proximity.
9. A socket inserting head for inserting radio tube
higher than the bottom socket to hold the stack of sockets
against downward movement, means disposed outside of
the magazine and movable in a direction longitudinal of
the magazine for operating on the peripheral portion of
the lowermost socket to grip ‘and push the bottom socket
downwardly into a printed circuit board while separating
the said bottom socket from the next superjacent socket,
sockets into a board, said head comprising an arm, an
upright tubular magazine above said arm, said mag
azine holding a superposed stack of sockets, a plurality
of feed claws having an upper ledge on one side and a
lower ledge on the other side at a vertical spacing about
one-half the vertical spacing of the sockets, a transfer or
setting means for engaging the lowermost socket of the
and means to lower the stack of sockets by one socket as
stack and forcing it downward into the board, motor
means disposed behind said magazine for driving said
a part of each socket insertion cycle preparatory to the
next socket insertion cycle.
6. A socket inserting head for inserting radio tube
transfer means, means also driven by said motor means
sockets into a printed circuit board, said head comprising 30 to oscillate said claws at the bottom of the magazine ad
a relatively long generally horizontal arm having a width
jacent a socket above the lowermost socket whereby said
stack is lowered one socket during one complete oscil
only slightly greater than the diameter of the sockets,
an upright tubular magazine above said arm at the free
forward end of said arm,‘ the rear end being adapted to
lation of said feed claws, and control meansto cause said
motor means to put the head through one socket inserting
be ?xedly mounted, said magazine holding a superposed 35
cycle.
~
10. A socket inserting head for inserting radio tube
stack of connected but releasable sockets, releasable means
engaging a socket higher than the bottom socket to hold
sockets into a board, said head comprising a relatively
long generally horizontal arm having a width only slightly
the stack of sockets against downward movement, means
disposed outside of the magazine and movable in a direc
greater than the diameter of the sockets, an upright tubu
tion longitudinal of the magazine for operating, on the 40 lar magazine above said arm at the free forward end of
peripheral portion of the lowermost socket to grip and
said arm, the rear end of said arm being ‘adapted to be
push the bottom socket downwardly into a printed ‘circuit
?xedly mounted, said magazine holding a superposed stack
board while separating the said bottom socket from the
of sockets connected to one another with a releasable
next superjacent socket, and means to lower the stack
engagement, a plurality of feed claws having an upper
of sockets ‘by one socket as—a part of each socket inser
45 ledge on one side and a lower ledge on the other side at
tion cycle preparatory to the next socket insertion cycle,
a vertical spacing about one-half the vertical spacing of
the sockets, a transfer or setting means ‘for engaging the
in the outline of the arm as viewed in plan, whereby a
lowermost socket of the stack and forcing it downward
number of such heads may be disposed in close proximity
into the board, motor means disposed behind said mag
50
for the simultaneous insertion of sockets into a board
azine for driving said transfer means, means also driven
requiring sockets in close proximity.
by said motor means to oscillate said claws at the bottom
7. A socket inserting head for inserting radio tube
of the magazine adjacent a socket above the lowermost
sockets into a board, said head comprising an arm, an
socket whereby said stack is lowered one socket during
upright tubular magazine above said arm, said magazine
one complete oscillation of said feed claws, and control
holding a superposed stack of sockets, a plurality of trans
means to cause said motor means to put the head through
said magazine and other mechanism being con?ned with
for or setting jaws for engaging the lowermost socket of
the stack and forcing it downward into the board, verti
cal vrods slidably disposed through said arm behind said
magazine and carrying said jaws at their lower ends,
motor means disposed behind said magazine ‘for vertically
reciprocating said rods for a substantial distance needed
to deliver the lowermost socket into the board, and cam
rning means for oscillating the rods to move the jaws
together during downward movement and to move the
same apart during upward movement, and control means
to cause said motor means to put the head through one
'
socket inserting cycle.
one socket inserting cycle, said magazine, claws, motor
means, and all other'mechanism of said head being con
?ned within the outline of, the arm as viewed in plan,
whereby .a number of such heads may be disposed in close
proximity for the simultaneous insertion of sockets into a
board requiring sockets in close proximity.
11. A socket inserting head for inserting radio tube
sockets into a printed circuit board, said head compris
ing an arm, an upright tubular magazine above said am,
said magazine holding a superposed stack of sockets, a
plurality of pivoted feed claws having an upper ledge on
one side and a lower ledge on the other side at a vertical
8. A socket inserting head for inserting radio tube
spacing about one-half the vertical spacing of the sockets,
sockets into a board, said head comprising a relatively
a plurality of transfer or setting jaws for engaging the
70 lowermost socket of the stack and forcing it downward
long generally horizontal arm having a width only slight
‘ly greater than‘ the diameter of the sockets, an upright
tubular magazine above said arm at the (free forward
into the board, vertical rods slidably disposed and carry
end of said arm, the rear end of said arm being ‘adapted
ing said jaws at their lower ends, motor means disposed
behind said magazine for reciprocating said rods, cam
to be ?xedly mounted, said magazine holding a superposed
ming means for oscillating the rods to move the jaws
stack of sockets connected to one another with a releas~ 75 together during downward movement and to move the
3,043,001
13
14
same apart during upward movement, means to oscillate
said claws at the bottom of the magazine adjacent a socket
cycle, said magazine, jaws, claws, motor means, and all
other mechanism of said head being con?ned within the
above the lowermost socket, whereby said stack is lowered
one socket during one ‘complete oscillation of said feed
claws, means vertically reciprocable with said jaw rods
outline of the arm as viewed in plan, whereby a ‘number
of such heads may be disposed in close proximity for the
simultaneous insertion of sockets into a board requiring
sockets in close proximity.
and serving to actuate said means to oscillate the claws,
13. Apparatus for inserting radio tube sockets into a
and control means to cause said motor means to put the
printed circuit board, said apparatus comprising means
to receive and support in upright position a stack of
head through one inserting cycle.
12. A socket inserting head for inserting radio tube
sockets into a printed circuit board, said head comprising
superposed radio tube sockets which may be handled as
a unit, releasable means engaging the next socket higher
a relatively long generally horizontal arm having a width
only slightly greater than the diameter of the sockets,
an upright tubular magazine above said arm at the free
forward end of said arm, the rear end of said arm being
I than the bottom socket to hold the stack of sockets against
downward movement, means to positively separate the
lowermost socket of the stack from the next superjacent
adapted to be ?xedly mounted, said magazine holding 15 socket, means to drivingly insert the separated lowermost
with a releasable engagement, a plurality of pivoted feed
socket into a printed circuit board while forcibly sep
arating the lowermost socket from the next superjacent
claws having an upper ledge on one side and a lower
ledge on the other side at a vertical spacing about one
socket, and means to lower the stack of sockets a distance
corresponding to one socket as a part of each socket in
a superposed stack of sockets connected to one another
half the vertical spacing of the sockets, a plurality of
transfer or setting jaws for engaging the lowermost socket
of the stack and forcing it downward into the board,
vertical rods slidably disposed through said arm behind
said magazine ‘and carrying said jaws at their lower ends,
motor means disposed behind said magazine for recipro 25
eating said rods, oamming means for oscillating the rods
to move the jaws together during downward movement
sertion cycle preparatory to the next socket insertion
cycle.
References Cited in the ?le of this patent
UNITED STATES PATENTS
2,303,225
Olson ______________ __ Nov. 24, 1942
2,349,956
Gliss __________ __- ____ __ May 30, 1944
and to move the same apart during upward movement,
2,692,424
Habel ______________ __ Oct. 26, 1954
means to oscillate said claws at the bottom of the mag
2,820,283
Anderson ______ __i ____ __ Jan. 21, 1958
azine adjacent a socket above the lowermost socket, 30
2,835,959
2,850,737
2,852,899
2,856,674
2,878,556
2,928,165
Martines ____________ __ May 27,
Walsh _______________ __ Sept. 9,
Murrell _____________ .__ Sept. 23,
Hill ________________ __ Oct. 21,
Heidergott __________ __ Mar. 24,
Carlzen _____________ __ Mar. 15,
whereby said stack is lowered one socket during one com
plete oscillation of said feed claws, means vertically re
ciprocable with said jaw rods and serving to actuate said
means to oscillate the claws, and control means to cause
said motor means to put the head through one inserting 35
1958
1958
1958
1958
1959
1960